ML043240168

Edwin I Hatch, Units 1 and 2, Vogtle Electric Generating Plant, Units 1 and 2, Environmental Assessment, EOFs

ML043240168
Person / Time
Site:	Hatch, Vogtle, Farley
Issue date:	02/25/2005
From:	Gratton C NRC/NRR/DLPM/LPD2
To:	Gasser J Southern Nuclear Operating Co
Gratton C, NRR/DLPM 415-1055
References
TAC MC1056, TAC MC1057, TAC MC1058, TAC MC1059, TAC MC1060, TAC MC1061
Download: ML043240168 (8)

Text

February 25, 2005 Mr. Jeffrey T. Gasser Executive Vice President Southern Nuclear Operating Company, Inc.

P.O. Box 1295 Birmingham, AL 35201

SUBJECT:

JOSEPH M. FARLEY, UNITS 1 AND 2, EDWIN I. HATCH, UNITS 1 AND 2, VOGTLE ELECTRIC GENERATING PLANT, UNITS 1 AND 2 ENVIRONMENTAL ASSESSMENT AND FINDING OF NO SIGNIFICANT IMPACT FOR A PROPOSED EXEMPTION FROM THE REQUIREMENTS OF 10 CFR PART 50 APPENDIX E AND 10 CFR 50.47(b) (TAC NOS. MC1056, MC1057, MC1058, MC1059, MC1060, AND MC1061)

Dear Mr Gasser:

Enclosed is a copy of the Environmental Assessment and Finding of No Significant Impact related to request for approval to relocate the emergency operations facilities (EOFs) dated October 16, 2003, as supplemented on April 15 and August 16, 2004. The Nuclear Regulatory Commission staff determined that an exemption to the requirements of Title 10 of the Code of Federal Regulations (10 CFR) was required. The regulations currently require that licensees make adequate provision to provide a near-site EOF. The proposed exemption would allow Southern Nuclear Operating Company, Inc., to move the EOFs for the Edwin I. Hatch Nuclear Plant, Units 1 and 2, Joseph M. Farley Nuclear Plant, Units 1 and 2, and Vogtle Electric Generating Plant, Units 1 and 2, to a new location.

The assessment is being forwarded to the Office of the Federal Register for publication.

Sincerely,

/RA/

Christopher Gratton, Senior Project Manager Project Directorate II-1 Division of Licensing Project Management Office of Nuclear Reactor Regulation Docket Nos. 50-321, 50-366, 50-348, 50-364, 50-424, and 50-425

Enclosure:

Environmental Assessment cc w/encl: See next page

February 25, 2005 Mr. Jeffrey T. Gasser Executive Vice President Southern Nuclear Operating Company, Inc.

P.O. Box 1295 Birmingham, AL 35201

SUBJECT:

JOSEPH M. FARLEY, UNITS 1 AND 2, EDWIN I. HATCH, UNITS 1 AND 2, VOGTLE ELECTRIC GENERATING PLANT, UNITS 1 AND 2 ENVIRONMENTAL ASSESSMENT AND FINDING OF NO SIGNIFICANT IMPACT FOR A PROPOSED EXEMPTION FROM THE REQUIREMENTS OF 10 CFR PART 50 APPENDIX E AND 10 CFR 50.47(b) (TAC NOS. MC1056, MC1057, MC1058, MC1059, MC1060, AND MC1061)

Dear Mr Gasser:

Enclosed is a copy of the Environmental Assessment and Finding of No Significant Impact related to request for approval to relocate the emergency operations facilities (EOFs) dated October 16, 2003, as supplemented on April 15 and August 16, 2004. The Nuclear Regulatory Commission staff determined that an exemption to the requirements of Title 10 of the Code of Federal Regulations (10 CFR) was required. The regulations currently require that licensees make adequate provision to provide a near-site EOF. The proposed exemption would allow Southern Nuclear Operating Company, Inc., to move the EOFs for the Edwin I. Hatch Nuclear Plant, Units 1 and 2, Joseph M. Farley Nuclear Plant, Units 1 and 2, and Vogtle Electric Generating Plant, Units 1 and 2, to a new location.

The assessment is being forwarded to the Office of the Federal Register for publication.

Sincerely,

/RA/

Christopher Gratton, Senior Project Manager Project Directorate II-1 Division of Licensing Project Management Office of Nuclear Reactor Regulation Docket Nos. 50-321, 50-366, 50-348, 50-364, 50-424, and 50-425

Enclosure:

Environmental Assessment cc w/encl: See next page DISTRIBUTION:

PUBLIC PDII-1 R/F EHackett MRoss-Lee CHawes CGratton SPeters JTappert OGC ACRS KWilliams BBonser, RII ADAMS Accession Number: ML043240168 *w/comments NRR-042 OFFICE PDII-1/PM PDII-1/LA DRIP:RLEP OGC PDII-1/SC NAME CGratton CHawes AKugler

• AFernandez* JNakoski DATE 12/2/04/ 12/2/04 11/30/04 12/1/04 12/2/04 OFFICIAL RECORD COPY

Edwin I. Hatch Nuclear Plant Vogtle Electric Generating Plant Joseph M. Farley Nuclear Plant, Units 1 & 2 cc:

Laurence Bergen Mr. Arthur H. Dombay, Esq.

Oglethorpe Power Corporation Troutman Sanders 2100 E. Exchange Place Nations Bank Plaza P.O. Box 1349 600 Peachtree St, NE Tucker, GA 30085-1349 Suite 5200 Atlanta, GA 30308 Mr. Jeffrey T. Gasser Executive Vice President Resident Inspector Southern Nuclear Operating Company, Inc. Vogtle Plant P.O. Box 1295 8805 River Road Birmingham, AL 35201 Waynesboro, GA 30830 Mr. Raymond D. Baker Mr. Steven M. Jackson Manager - Licensing Senior Engineer -Power Supply Southern Nuclear Operating Company, Inc. Municipal Electric Authority of Georgia P.O. Box 1295 1470 Riveredge Parkway, NW Birmingham, AL 35201 Atlanta, GA 30303-4684 Mr. H. L. Summer, Jr. Mr. G. R. Frederick, General Manager Vice President - Nuclear Hatch Project Edwin I. Hatch Nuclear Plant Southern Nuclear Operating Company, Inc. Southern Nuclear Operating Company, Inc.

P.O. Box 1295 U.S. Highway 1 North Birmingham, AL 35201-1295 P.O. Box 2010 Baxley, GA 31515 Resident Inspector Hatch Project Mr. Reece McAllister 11030 Hatch Parkway North Executive Secretary Baxley, GA 31513 Georgia Public Service Commission 244 Washington St., SW Mr. Harold Reheis, Director Atlanta, GA 30334 Department of Natural Resources 205 Butler St, SE, Suite 1252 Mr. D. E. Grissette, Vice President Atlanta, GA 30334 Southern Nuclear Operating Company, Inc.

P.O. Box 1295 Chairman Birmingham, AL 35201 Appling County Commissioners County Commissioners Mr. K. Rosanski, Resident Manager Baxley, GA 31513 Oglethorpe Power Corporation Edwin I. Hatch Nuclear Plant Office of the County Commissioners P.O. Box 2010 Burke County Commission Baxley, GA 31515 Waynesboro, GA 30830

Edwin I. Hatch Nuclear Plant Vogtle Electric Generating Plant Joseph M. Farley Nuclear Plant, Units 1 & 2 cc:

Mr. N.J. Stringfellow, Manager-Licensing Resident Inspector Southern Nuclear Operating Company, Inc. U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission P.O. Box 1295 7388 N. State Highway 95 Birmingham, AL 35201-1295 Columbia, AL 36319 Mr. Skip Kitchens, General Manager William D. Oldfield Vogtle Electric General Plant SAER Supervisor Southern Nuclear Operating Company, Inc. Southern Nuclear Operating Company, Inc.

P.O. Box 1600 P.O. Box 470 Waynesboro, GA 30830 Ashford, AL 36312 Attorney General Heinz Mueller Law Department Environmental Review Coordinator 132 Judicial Building US EPA Region 4 Atlanta, GA 30334 61 Forsyth Strret, SW Atlanta, GA 30303-3104 Mr. J. R. Johnson General Manager Southern Nuclear Operating Company, Inc.

P.O. Box 470 Ashford, AL 36312 Mr. B. D. McKinney, Licensing Manager Southern Nuclear Operating Company, Inc.

P.O. Box 1295 Birmingham, AL 35201-1295 Mr. M. Stanford Blanton Balch and Bingham Law Firm P.O. Box 306 1710 Sixth Avenue North Birmingham, AL 35201 State Health Officer Alabama Department of Public Health 434 Monroe St.

Montgomery, AL 36130-1701 Chairman Houston County Commission P.O. Box 6406 Dothan, AL 36302

7590-01-P UNITED STATES NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMISSION SOUTHERN NUCLEAR OPERATING COUMPANY, INC.

DOCKET NOS. 50-321, 50-366, 50-348, 50-364, 50-424, AND 50-425 EDWIN I. HATCH NUCLEAR PLANT, UNITS 1 AND 2 JOSEPH M. FARLEY NUCLEAR PLANT, UNITS 1 AND 2 VOGTLE ELECTRIC GENERATING PLANT, UNITS 1 AND 2 ENVIRONMENTAL ASSESSMENT AND FINDING OF NO SIGNIFICANT IMPACT The U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) is considering issuance of an exemption from Title 10 of the Code of Federal Regulations (10 CFR) Part 50, Appendix E, and from 10 CFR 50.47(b)(3) for Facility Operating License Nos. DPR-57, NPF-5, NPF-2, NPF-8, NPF-68, and NPF-81, issued to Southern Nuclear Operating Company, Inc. (the licensee), for operation of the Edwin I. Hatch Nuclear Plant, Units 1 and 2 (Hatch), Joseph M. Farley Nuclear Plant, Units 1 and 2 (Farley), and Vogtle Electric Generating Plant, Units 1 and 2 (Vogtle),

respectively. Therefore, as required by 10 CFR 51.21, the NRC is issuing this environmental assessment and finding of no significant impact.

ENVIRONMENTAL ASSESSMENT Identification of the Proposed Action:

The proposed action would provide an exemption from the requirements of 10 CFR Part 50, Appendix E, and 10 CFR 50.47(b)(3) to permit the licensee to relocate the near-site emergency operations facilities (EOFs) for each plant identified above to a common EOF located at the licensees corporate headquarters in Birmingham, Alabama.

The need for the proposed exemption was identified by the NRC staff during its review of the licensees request for approval to relocate the EOFs dated October 16, 2003.

The Need for the Proposed Action:

The proposed action provides relief from the requirements that (1) adequate provisions shall be made and described for emergency facilities and equipment, including a licensee near-site EOF from which effective direction can be given and effective control can be exercised during an emergency, and (2) that arrangements to accommodate State and local staff at the licensees near-site EOF have been made. The licensee proposed to locate the EOFs in Birmingham, AL, which is 11/2 to 21/2 times farther than any previous NRC-approved distance.

At this distance, the NRC staff believes that it cannot reasonably consider the proposed location to be near-site. Therefore, the NRC staff determined that an exemption to the regulations that require an EOF to be near-site is required prior to consolidation of the near-site EOFs in Birmingham, AL. In order to ensure that NRC actions are timely, effective, and efficient, the staff is issuing an exemption under 10 CFR 50.12.

Environmental Impacts of the Proposed Action:

The NRC has completed its safety evaluation of the proposed action and concludes, as set forth below, that there are no significant environmental impacts associated with relocating the Hatch, Farley, and Vogtle near-site EOFs to a common EOF located in Birmingham, AL.

The proposed action will not significantly increase the probability or consequences of accidents. No changes are being made in the types of effluents that may be released off site.

There is no significant increase in occupational or public radiation exposure. Therefore, there are no significant radiological environmental impacts associated with the proposed action.

With regard to potential non-radiological impacts, the proposed action does not have a potential to affect any historic sites. It does not affect non-radiological plant effluents and has no other environmental impact. Therefore, there are no significant non-radiological environmental impacts associated with the proposed action.

Accordingly, the NRC concludes that there are no significant environmental impacts

associated with the proposed action.

Environmental Impacts of the Alternatives to the Proposed Action:

As an alternative to the proposed action, the staff considered denial of the proposed action (i.e., the no-action alternative). Denial of the application would result in no change in current environmental impacts. The environmental impacts of the proposed action and the alternative action are similar.

Alternative Use of Resources:

This action does not involve the use of any resources not previously considered in the following documents: Final Environmental Statement related to the operation of the Edwin I.

Hatch Nuclear Plant, Unit 1, dated October 1972; Final Environmental Statement related to the operation of the Edwin I. Hatch Nuclear Plant, Unit 2, dated March 1978; Final Environmental Statement related to the operation of the Joseph M. Farley Nuclear Plant, Units 1 and 2, dated December 1974; and Final Environmental Statement related to the operation of the Vogtle Electric Generating Plant, Units 1 and 2, NUREG-1087, dated December 1985.

Agencies and Persons Consulted:

In accordance with its stated policy, on November 17, 2004, the staff consulted with the Alabama State official, Kirk Whatley of the Office of Radiation Control, Alabama Department of Public Health, regarding the environmental impact of the proposed action for Farley. In addition, on November 18, 2004, the staff consulted with the Georgia State official, James Hardeman, of the Department of Natural Resources, regarding the environmental impact of the proposed action for Vogtle and Hatch. Neither State official had comments.

FINDING OF NO SIGNIFICANT IMPACT On the basis of the environmental assessment, the NRC concludes that the proposed action will not have a significant effect on the quality of the human environment. Accordingly, the NRC has determined not to prepare an environmental impact statement for the proposed

action.

For further details with respect to the proposed action, see the licensees letter dated October 16, 2003, as supplemented by letters dated April 15 and August 16, 2004. Documents may be examined, and/or copied for a fee, at the NRCs Public Document Room (PDR), located at One White Flint North, Public File Area O1 F21, 11555 Rockville Pike (first floor), Rockville, Maryland. Publicly available records will be accessible electronically from the Agencywide Documents Access and Management System (ADAMS) Public Electronic Reading Room on the Internet at the NRC Web site, http://www.nrc.gov/reading-rm/adams.html. (Note: Public access to ADAMS has been temporarily suspended so that security reviews of publicly available documents may be performed and potentially sensitive information removed. Please check the NRC Web site for updates on the resumption of ADAMS Access.) Persons who do not have access to ADAMS or who encounter problems in accessing the documents located in ADAMS should contact the NRC PDR Reference staff by telephone at 1-800-397-4209 or 301-415-4737, or by e-mail to pdr@nrc.gov.

Dated at Rockville, Maryland, this 25th day of February.

FOR THE NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMISSION

/RA/

Christopher Gratton, Senior Project Manager, Section 1 Project Directorate II Division of Licensing Project Management Office of Nuclear Reactor Regulation